Thursday, April 23, 2015

10+ Indian Jazz Musicians Who Create A Mystical World We Would Love To Lose Ourselves In



Jazz music in India is not confined to any particular kind of sound. It is a fusion – elements of jazz fuse seamlessly with features of Indian classical music. Somebody correctly described jazz music in India as  being an open minded style for open minded people. We list some popular Indian jazz musicians (in no particular order), who are capable of creating a magical ambience with their musical dexterity! So listen on!
Mishko M'ba
Mishiko M'ba is among the cream of French bassists, having worked with renowned artists such as Ray Charles, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Raul de Suza, Lucky Ali, Kaud and Didier Lockwood. He has an exciting and intense dynamic style, contributing to melodic and rhythmic structures which are the very heartbeat of jazz. He currently plays with Emergence,Mystic Vibes, UNK, Konark Reddy, Krishna's Temple Rock and Refuge. In 2013, he took part in various projects with Ravichandran Kulur, Selva Ganesh, Gino Banks and Ranjit Barot and is currently part of their new band ARKA.  The band consist of five members - V Selva Ganesh(Kanjeera), Karhik(vocal), Ravichandra Kulur(flute), Mishko M'ba(Bass guitar), Santhosh Chandran(guitar) and Gino Banks( Drums).

Sanjay Divecha
His music is all about experimentation and improvisation. It is an amalgamation of indo-centric folk, along with additional influences from different parts of the world. He has collaborated with famous musicians such as Carlos Santana, Angelique Kidjo and Louis Johnson. In the year 2007, he released Full Circle. It is an autobiographical portrait of a composer and a guitarist who has returned to his Indian roots, without forsaking the invaluable musical experience offered to him by the West.

Mohini Dey
Mohini is considered a prodigy by many acclaimed musicians. At the young age of 17, this bass guitarist has already become a formidable name! She has showcased her brilliance in popular music festivals such as the Elephanta Festival, Global Music Festival and Saptarang.
Sheldon D'Silva
Sheldon believes that bass is a bridge between rhythm and melody and is hence an integral part in any band, regardless of genre. In his 18 year long career as a bass guitarist, he has worked with famous musicians like George Duke, Al Jarreau and Trilok Gurtu. He is currently an international endorsee for Warwick bass guitars and D' Addario strings.

Rhys Sebastian D'Souza
Rhys made his debut as part of a 13- piece jazz group that calls itself The Big Band, playing alongside veteran city musicians such as his mother Merlin D'Souza, The Montserrat horn players and vocalist Sazneen, Vivian Pocha, Suzy Q, Bianca, among others.
Gino BanksGino has been fooling around with a drum set since he was 8 years old! He took up drumming seriously at the age of 15. He is the son of Louis Banks, India's legendary jazz pianist and composer. He is a versatile player and this trait has lead him to perform and record with artists and bands of different genres.
Floyd Fernandes
Floyd Fernandes is one of the most popular guitarists in India. His preferred genres are jazz, blues, funk and fusion. He has been selflessly conducting guitar camps to educate people about music and believes it is an effective way to discover musical talent in India.

Aditya Balani
Aditya is an eclectic guitarist, composer and songwriter and has worked with bands like Advaita, Artistes Unlimited, Crimson, Think Floyd and Incognito. He has performed with international artists like Kenwood Dennard, Shyeben-Tzur, Carl Clements and Shuba Mudgal to name a few. Aditya has been performing extensively across the country in festivals like the Delhi International Arts Festival, Jazz Utsav, Congo Square, Jazz Festival, Shisha Jazz Festival and Aquajam Festival.

Madhav Chari
In his dazzling career, he has performed and collaborated with legends like drummers Max Roach and Kenny Baron, Saxophonist-composer Henry Threadgill, and more recently with multiple Grammy winner Wynton Marsalis. He also formed a fusion group, Nomadic Subjects in New York. His music incorporates influences from Indian classical music, afro-cuban and jazz.
Ranjit Barot
He has been described by guitar legend John McLaughlin as "one of the leading edges in drumming", and is now part of John McLaughlin and The 4th Dimension. Born into a family steeped in Indian classical music, melody and rhythm has always been an integral part of Ranjit's life. His mother is the renowned Kathak dancer, Sitara Devi. His first big performance was at Jazz Yatra, with the Jazz Yatra Sextet.

Louiz Banks
He has been spearheading the jazz movement in India for the past three decades. He has been singularly instrumental in bringing a high class jazz display for jazz enthusiasts in India. He has collaborated with greats such as Eddie Henderson, Eddie Daniels, Charlie Mariano and many more.

Amit Heri
Amit is a versatile guitarist with a wide repertoire, encompassing styles as diverse as the blues, jazz, Indian and Western classical, as well as rock and pop. He has shared the stage and worked with numerous internationally renowned artists including Charlie Marlano and Zakir Hussain. Amit Heri's work spans multiple platforms and he has composed music for feature films, theatre productions and television.
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